Weaved through several fascinating stories about Woodstock, his brother Johnny, his father, mother and grandfather, Edgar says, “music is a lot more than just my internalized private world. It has the power to transcend boundaries and reach out and bring people together.”

You can experience what Edgar is talking about this Saturday, right down the road in Beverly at The Larcom, the most intimate, acoustically stellar listening room north of Boston! Good seats still available starting at $29.00. Get them here!

We’re torn. Two of the hottest rising stars of today’s blues scene will be close to home tomorrow. Danielle Miraglia in a co-bill with Jon Shain at Old Sloop in Rockport ($10 in advance HERE, $12 at door)

The GCC Application deadline is October 17, 2016. No paper copies are required this year!

The GCC grants have primed countless programs that would not have been possible without that support. The unheralded community volunteers that put in the time and effort to administer the process are fantastic. I look forward to seeing the annual choices. Good luck everyone!

Rose Sheehan writes to GMG:

On behalf of the Gloucester Cultural Council please help us get the word out about project funding opportunities. Thanks!

The Gloucester Cultural Council is currently accepting applications for grant funding for community-based projects in the arts, humanities and sciences for the FY 2017 round of funding. Each year, organizations, schools and individuals are invited to apply to the Local Cultural Council for funding to support projects that promote rich cultural experiences in the Gloucester community. This year, all applicants must submit their proposals via the new online system and no hard copy applications will be accepted.

The Gloucester Cultural Council is part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The LCC Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, sciences and humanities every year. The state legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, which then allocates funds to each community. The Gloucester Cultural Council guidelines, project priorities and online applications are available at http://www.mass-culture.org/Gloucester.

Gloucester Daily Times April 2012, Poetry Comes Alive, East Gloucester Elementary school celebrates National Poetry Month with support from the Gloucester Cultural Council, an MCC LCC initiative

Next Weekend kicks off with the Lanesville Music Festival FREE starting at NOON with a Dance Party from 8:30-11pm featuring King Brown Mattacks and Gates — only $10 at the door. And if you’d prefer classical music to dancing you can go to the Cape Ann Symphony’s Big Night Big Music concert featuring Bernstein, Debussy and Respighi

Then on Sunday 9/25 from 2-7pm go to The Concert Across America to End Gun Violence feat. Marina Evans, Jon Butcher, Fozzie Hill w/ Wolf Ginandes, Allen Estes, John Raymond Jerome & Fly Amero at Mile Marker One! Free with donations accepted to support the North Shore Health Project.

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The Urchin Exchange is now selling clothes and accessories for the wee ones AND for women!

If you’ve already been shopping and/or consigning at the Urchin Exchange then you have even more reason to continue. If you have yet to visit…then this is the time to hurry up and do so!

The store’s owner, Melanie, is as helpful and friendly as she is enterprising. After building a large fan base, including myself, that turn to her often for children’s staples, original pieces, and the perfect gifts, she started receiving numerous requests to expand and begin handling women’s items as well. She has now created a fabulous shop that offers selections of Women’s, Children’s and Maternity clothing, handbags, shoes, baby gear, toys and other gifts…that also presents Cape Ann with another wonderful opportunity to be eco-friendly. With ever changing inventory and a large selection, it is next to impossible to leave empty handed.

Not looking to spend more money? Well then, what about making some?

The Urchin Exchange is always looking for on TREND (search Pinterest for *on *trend *clothing) and CURRENT (1-3 years new) styles in the BEST condition! Melanie is currently accepting Fall and transitional pieces.

I spent last Sunday digging through my closet and taking an honest look at what pieces, still in good condition, current, and “trendy” (or at least as trendy as I am willing to go), that I knew I would not find the occasion to wear. I brought them to Melanie and she made fair decisions about which pieces she would like to add to her inventory. I can now look forward to earning some pocket money and having a trimmed down, tidy closet.

This year the Urchin Exchange is the proud winner of North Shore Magazine – Best Of North Shore for Maternity Clothing! One stop shopping for Moms, Moms-to-be, and their little ones.

The Urchin Exchange is now operating a new inventory management system with consignor log it to track individual sales and earnings as well. I can’t lie, it is fun to take a peek once in awhile while sitting on the couch late at night and see my earnings add up!

Another option is Drop & Donate. You can drop a bag of 20 or fewer items labeled with the D&D ticket, they will take what they want and donate anything they don’t to Second Glance. Read more about Drop & Donate on the website!

You can also feel free to call with any questions 978-283-3300.

The Urchin Exchange is located at 214 Eastern Ave, Gloucester 01930…in The Commons Gloucester shopping plaza.

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Henri Smith taken in New Orleans when he went back for Allen Toussaint’s Funeral

Tune in to Northshore 104.9 FM tomorrow at 8:40AM for some fun when Dana & Mugs welcome local singer/bandleader Henri Smith (who moved to Gloucester after Hurricane Katrina destroyed his home). You’ll learn how Henri & Charles Neville (of the Neville Brothers) are nurturing the next generation of top musicians through this week’s debut of The New England Neville Brothers in Beverly (more info here). And you can bet Dana Hersey will ask Henri about his roles in several films shot in New England, including “The Great Debaters,” “Double Jeopardy,” “Pink Panther 2” and “Shutter Island.”

Best of all you could win a pair of tickets to Friday’s show and dance with Henri Smith along with Grammy-winners Charles Neville & Amadee Castenell and the next generation of Neville Brothers at the fully air conditioned Vittori-Rocci Post right off Rte 128 in Beverly! Good seats are still available for only $25.00. GET THEM HERE.

Here’s an example of what that was like 2 years ago at a show in Gloucester!

Aurelia Nelson and the crew from North Shore 104.9 are in front of Cape Ann Savings Bank with their Prize Wheel RIGHT NOW. And they’ll be there all day today! Tomorrow you can enter your name to win prizes instead of spinning the wheel. Either way, you’ll want to go down to the Sidewalk Bazaar and try your luck!

After a couple of days of dicey weather The Force has delivered us perfect a outdoor movie-going night. FREE screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, presented by Building Center. Refreshments at 6pm. Movie starts at dark. 65 Rogers Street (I4-C2)! Be there to awaken the Force within you! Special thanks to Aurelia Nelson of North Shore 104.9 for keeping Movie Night Alive!

Last week over 700 people (including plenty of “Pink Ladies”) flocked to I4-C2 to enjoy “Grease” under the stars. Tonight will be just as beautiful, if a tad cooler. Perfect viewing weather for “Finding Nemo.” Bring non-perishable food to donate to The Open Door Food Pantry and do some good while having fun with the family!

You are earnestly requested to meet several gentleman at lunch at Parker, at one o’clock sharp to consult on the best method of securing harmony in the Republican Party at the convention and the election. Your presence is especially important.

Yours truly

E, N. Kinsley esq J. M. Forbes NHS

It appears it was in preparing for the 1880 Presidential election Election

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4 years ago, I filmed people of all ages (from 5 years old to grandpa) jumping off Magnolia pier, with at least 3 people jumping for the first time — all the while there’s a game of “Pier Tag” going on too. Pier Tag is impossible when the barricades are up. It’s time for the bureaucrats to man-or-woman-up, stop worrying so much about getting sued and remove the barricades to encourage kids, teens, adults, and grandparents to gather together in a safe, healthy place for some summer fun! While you’re at it, put the ladders back too. Joey – you think we should have a pole about this?

For some odd reason, somebody keeps barricading the kids’ favorite spot. This is creating an unsafe situation. Generations of young children have learned to jump off the pier by being able to jump without having to climb the railing, which makes it a lot harder to learn — and way more scary too. Whomever keeps barricading the jump spot, please remove the barricades. Thanks!

Well, it’s actually A LOT bigger than GMG. The New York Times just reported the following:

The two-to-one decision from a three-judge panel at the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Tuesday came in a case about rules applying to a doctrine known as net neutrality, which prohibit broadband companies from blocking or slowing the delivery of internet content to consumers.

For us, here in Gloucester, it means that Comcast can’t intentionally slow down your streaming of a Netflix movie or a GMG video and it can’t block a GMG post — not even this one!

It’s a big win for GMG and everyone who uses the Internet … but, as you might expect, the fight isn’t over.

Every once in a while a live show delivers a truly moving theatre experience. North Shore Music Theatre‘s production of Funny Girl is it. This musical has everything you’d want in an evening out: It’s funny, heartwarming, music is stellar and the dancing is engaging — especially the tap.

Most importantly, the star, Shoshana Bean, grabs you from the moment she enters the stage and keeps hold of your emotions while she beckons your hopes, dreams and fears to go along with her on a wild ride through the early 20th century life of Zeigfeld Follies star Fanny Brice.

Shoshana Bean (who was the first replacement actress for the role of Elphaba on Broadway in the musical Wicked) has a gorgeous voice and is perfectly cast in the role made famous by Barbara Streisand on Broadway in 1964 and on film in 1968. Bean is an extraordinarily good actress whose physical comedy and timing make this NSMT show one of our favorites in a long time. Even our son loved it and he’s jaded by having been around rock stars all his life!

Funny Girl is selling fast and only running through June 19th, so get your tickets right now, RIGHT HERE!!

Here’s live performance of Fanny Brice singing one of her hits just to get you in the mood . . .

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When I lived for a while in the mountains near Woodstock, NY, people there used to say, “We have three seasons: July, August and Winter.” This spring might make you wonder if the same is true here in Gloucester. It’s not. Nice weather is around the corner and it starts this weekend when we celebrate Memorial Day and call it the beginning of summer (even though astronomically, summer isn’t for another 4 weeks). So … good riddance oh nasty spring — IT’S TIME TO PARTY!

But here’s the thing: even if our capricious New England weather decides not to cooperate, which we all know is possible, you can still party in supreme comfort aboard The Beauport Prince Cruise Ship on Memorial Day Sunday with 5-time Grammy nominees Roomful of Blues! That’s because the Beauport Princess is a Cruise Ship (not a whale watch boat) sporting 2 climate-controlled indoor decks with dance floors PLUS an open-air top deck — and there’s a full bar on every deck. For this cruise, we have theatre seating on the first deck, tables on the 2nd deck and couches on the top deck — because Mother Nature could be nice to us after all! Tickets are only $35 in advance ($45 at the dock if there are any left — this cruise has sold out the last 2 years). It’s the best Memorial Day bargain you’ll find so get tickets right now RIGHT HERE!

Miranda Russell and her band play a wide variety of repertoire from jazz to folk-rock invasion to contemporary gems. Critics routinely praise Miranda for her dynamic vocal range and unique treatments of celebrated songwriters such as Paul Simon, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, as well as standards from the American Songbook. You will also hear at least one song from one of Miranda’s favorite artists: Prince.

Tickets are still left. Best available seats are in the balcony. Get Them Here.

Note about the Larcom Theatre : The owners of the Larcom Theatre have put it up for sale. We are working to preserve this historic treasure as a performing arts venue rather than see it go condo. If you would like to help us in this endeavor, please call Vickie or Peter at 978.525.9093 or contact us here.

Can you imagine a more spectacular climax to the Cape Ann Symphony‘s most spectacular season? On Saturday (5/21) you can join Yoichi Udagawa and the top classical players on Boston’s North Shore for a stellar evening of music. This kind of concert doesn’t come along very often. Believe it or not, there are still tickets available for this Grand Finale. Get Tickets Here.

In addition to being one of the best singers and songwriters we’ve encountered over the past dozen or so years, Ruby produces extraordinary videos (see them here).

Today she premieres a double feature. That’s right, folks … 2 videos at once. See a review by Infectious Magazine here. Better yet, watch and enjoy, below (top volume and full screen recommended). You can see Ruby at Katrina’s on June 18th with Gloucester’s own Inge Berge opening (another one of our favorite singer/songwriters/video producers — see some of Inge’s videos here and listen an excellent Inge Berge song below).

Tickets are still available to both Larcom Theatre concerts this weekend featuring two legendary performers:

Tomorrow (SAT) at 8pm, British Blues Pioneer Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown celebrate 50 years and more than 5,000 rockin’ shows from the Royal Albert Hall to Carnegie Hall to the Fillmore East and West and now Beverly’s Larcom Theatre! In this interview, Kim Simmonds tells Blake Maddux of the Beverly Citizen, “I’m bringing a guest vocalist in for a few songs. It will be a quite different show that people might never see again.” GET TICKETS HERE. Savoy Brown’s “Tell Mama” was featured on HBO’s hit series Vinyl.

Then on Sunday at 6pm you can experience the magic of an intimate evening with one of popular music’s most revered icons, Art Garfunkel, who brings his astounding performance to the gorgeous, acoustically stellar Larcom Theatre. There are still a few tickets left, with the best available seats being in the Balcony (remember the last row of the Larcom’s balcony is only 60 feet from the stage). GET THEM HERE.

Gloucester Webcam

The GloucesterCast Podcast

Free GMG Gloucester Sticker

As long as supplies last if any GMG folks want a bumper sticker but can't drop down the dock, just send a self addressed and stamped envelope longer then 7 and a half inches and I'll drop one in the mail for you.

Send the self addressed and stamped envelope to the dock at 95 East Main St Gloucester Ma 01930 care of Joey (put my name in big letters to make sure it gets to me)

Free GMG Gloucester Sticker

As long as supplies last if any GMG folks want a bumper sticker but can't drop down the dock, just send a self addressed and stamped envelope longer then 7 and a half inches and I'll drop one in the mail for you.

Send the self addressed and stamped envelope to the dock at 95 East Main St Gloucester Ma 01930 care of Joey (put my name in big letters to make sure it gets to me)